Ninth Circuit Judge Bea Tells His Immigration Story

• While he was in college, Appeals Court judge Carlos T. Bea was nearly deported over a technical violation of US immigration law. He was, however, given the opportunity to stay in the US, and is now a member of the federal circuit that handles half of today's appeals in immigration cases. The ImmigrationProf Blog highlights his inspiring story and proposal  to reform the immigration appeals process.
• Another great example of the pro-migrant blogosphere having an impact in the new media realm can be seen in this video produced by The Unapologetic Mexican. Entitled 'Ben Harper's Oppression; A Xicano Interpretation' the video has gotten a significant amount of views in a social networking/media community largely dominated by anti-immigrant sentiment.

 

• In Riverside, New Jersey, the town council voted last night to repeal an ordinance intended to punish landlords and employers renting to or hiring individuals without documentation.  The ACLU commended the town board for dismissing legislation that would have "fueled xenophobia and discrimination."
• Prometheus 6 has pointed us at an article in Medical News Today about waiting times for health care in the US. People seeking medical attention are waiting an average of 70 days for appointments, while some who have diagnosed with cancer are waiting "more than a month" to be seen by providers.  These statistics fail to account for the longer waiting times of the uninsured, roughly 44 million Americans, or those who delay care because of expenses.  The article continues by comparing our health care system with that of Canada, where there is no wait for emergency surgeries and no one is denied care based on finances.
• Finally, Jack and Jill Politics wrote a a blog entry today entitled The Media Loves Stories About Race, As Long As They Fit A Certain Narrative. In other words, the 'Jena Six' get little attention, police brutality gets little attention, but OJ Simpson's newest arrest gets lots of media time.  The author says:

"The real appeal of the O.J. story is that it restores a comfortable narrative for America, where the bad guys and the good guys are marked by the color of their skin. As the media is inundated with stories about our dysfunctional and racist criminal justice system like those of The Jena Six, Kenneth Foster, Troy Davis and Genarlow Wilson, the O.J. story offers an opportunity to return to a more simplistic understanding of race and criminality."

That's a sad but insightful analysis, and one which definitely deserves more consideration on our part.